An Action of the Heart

Today we made a commitment to do something positive for our community. We plan to perform an action of the heart for the common good. (Explain the class project here.) We may need your help, but we also want your encouragement.

We read a story about a girl named Wanda who thought she saw a rose bush in a trashy vacant lot. Wanda inspired the whole neighborhood with her hard work, hope and love. The neighbors worked together to clean up the lot and plant rose bushes. Not only was the neighborhood brighter, but all the neighbors were working together for the common good. We were inspired by Wanda and decided that we could be philanthropists, too.

A philanthropist is someone who shares time, talent or treasure for the common good.

How do we (or how does our community) benefit from others who give their time, talent or treasure for the common good? (Think of local philanthropists, museums, faith based groups, nonprofits, etc.)

What do our family members do for the common good?

What does it mean to give and expect nothing back?

How does it feel to do something for others?

What little things make the world a better place?

What is the environment? How (or why) is it important to us?

1. Plant a seed in a cup with some soil, put it on the windowsill and chart the daily growth of the plant in a journal.

2. Put water in two separate containers. Add a couple of drops of blue food coloring to one container of water and red to the other. Put a white daisy or carnation (with stem) in each container. Observe the flowers over several hours. Talk about the changes and discuss why it happened.

3. Collect three plastic bags, dried beans (limas work well), and a paper towel. Put just two or three beans in one bag (no water). Put two or three beans and a wet paper towel in the next bag. Put the beans and water in the third bag (keep a little water in the bag at all times). Seal the three bags and tape them on a window where they will get sun. Describe in a journal the daily progress of each.